How to Sew a Four Hole Button

wikiHow is a “wiki,” similar to Wikipedia, which means that many of our articles are co-written by multiple authors. To create this article, volunteer authors worked to edit and improve it over time. Together, they cited 6 references.

The wikiHow Video Team also followed the article's instructions, and validated that they work.
Learn more...

Clothes are expensive. When you lose a button, most shirts come with extra ones at the bottom. But how do you put that button in a spot to replace the one you lost? You sew it back on!

Steps

1

Unwind 2 feet (24 in.) of your thread. Use your scissors to make a neat cut, keeping the edges from fraying as much as possible. This will make it easier to thread your needle.[1]

Can you please put wikiHow on the whitelist for your ad blocker? wikiHow relies on ad money to give you our free how-to guides. Learn how.

2

Thread your needle by moistening the tip of the thread and feeding it through the eye of the needle.[2]

3

Fold the thread in half, with the needle at the center and tie a knot at the other end. To tie the knot, loop the thread around two of your fingers, pushing the needle through the loop you just made.[3]

Push the needle through the fabric under the button. Push it through one of the button-holes, making sure to pull the thread all the way through until the knot catches on the fabric.

7

Push the needle down the button-hole directly opposite (diagonally) the first hole and through the fabric, pulling the thread all the way through.[5]

8

Push the needle up through the fabric and through one of the remaining button-holes, making sure the thread is pulled all the way through.[6]

9

Push the needle through the opposite hole and down through the fabric, pulling it tight.

10

Repeat this process through the same holes until you feel the button is secure enough. Going through each hole 3 times should be sufficient. For larger buttons, more passes may be needed.

11

With the needle underneath the button, pass the needle through the crisscrossing threads on the bottom of the button. Pull the thread completely through, without going through any of the holes of the fabric itself.

Tips

To tie your knot, wrap the thread around two fingers. Spread your fingers slightly apart and pass the needle in between the gap, through the loop in the thread. Pull the thread tight, guiding the knot as close to the end of the thread as possible. This knot will be the same one used at the beginning and the end of the process.

Related wikiHows

About This Article

Tested By:

wikiHow Video Team

wikiHow is a “wiki,” similar to Wikipedia, which means that many of our articles are co-written by multiple authors. To create this article, volunteer authors worked to edit and improve it over time. Together, they cited 6 references.

Reader Success Stories

BB

Brady Batche

May 15

"I needed to learn how to do this for a grade in a class. Everything I needed to know was given in this article. Very helpful!"..." more

Rated this article:

BB

Brady Batche

May 15

"I have a class where I need to show how to sew a button onto a piece of fabric (two-hole and four-hole button). This article was extremely helpful and provided all the necessary steps in order for me to accomplish what I needed to learn."..." more

DK

Denis Kuchta

Apr 14

"One of the buttons on my uniform came off. This method was quick, simple and sturdy. Thanks!"